Transform SA first – students

In order for transformation and decolonisation to take place in higher education, the country had to be transformed and decolonised first. 

This was said by student leaders from various universities across the country speaking at the last day of the University of Fort Hare’s centenary conference held at the Alice campus.

Student Representative Council (SRC) presidents attended from the University of Witswaterand, University of Free State (UFS), Rhodes University, University of Fort Hare (UFH) and the University of Western Cape (UWC).

The three-day conference, part of the university’s year-long activities to commemorate the institution’s 100th anniversary celebrations, was organised in collaboration with Universities South Africa (USA) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).

The conference, themed “Transformation through Higher Education and Leadership” kicked off on July 3 after a grand opening on July 2 by the Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande.

A number of plenary sessions, which included the Bill of Rights and the challenge of transforming society and the future of social transformation and decolonisation of institutions were covered.

The sessions were chaired by various education leaders, national and international activists and vice chancellors.

Yesterday the floor was handed over to student leaders to give their views on transformation, a session which was chaired by Rhodes University vice-chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela.

The students touched on a number of issues such as access to higher education and the purpose of higher education in shaping the country.

They also discussed thorny issues such as unemployed graduates and the recent student protests against colonial statues at institutions.

UFS SRC president Mpho Khati said decolonisation should start with the decolonisation of statues at institutions.

“How can we decolonise universities when they bear the statue of former oppressors like Hendrik Verwoerd, instead of having the statue of Steve Biko to install the idea of transformation and black consciousness in students?” asked Khati.

Deputy UWC SRC president Lukhanyiso Matebese said: “We cannot decolonise universities if the country is not decolonised.

“There are a lot of issues that we need to look at and address first as a country before addressing them in the higher education sector, for instance inequality,” said Matebese.

Mzwanele Ntshwanti, the SRC president from Wits, said South African universities did not build or serve the greater needs of the country’s society.

“The jargon and reference used are mostly based on the United States rather than being based on our own experiences as a country,” said Ntshwanti.

Fort Hare SRC president Bulali Rawana touched on the issue of unemployed graduates, while Rhodes SRC president Lwanda Maqwelane called for transformation to first be addressed at the basic education level.

Fort Hare vice-chancellor Dr Mvuyo Tom said the conference fulfilled its objectives to engage, get ideas and new knowledge on issues relating to transformation and leadership in higher education.

“We think we have generated quite enough ideas and knowledge to change society and influence the direction of change in our country,” said Tom.

He said the discussions from the sessions would be published either collectively or individually.